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Halfords revs up for 12 Irish stores

HALFORDS, the UK auto parts retail giant, will open its first Irish store in Dublin this week in an assault that will see the company develop up to 12 new outlets in the republic over the next two years.

“We hope to open two more stores in Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown early next year and we are already checking out locations nationwide for the rest of the expansion plan,” said David Hamid, the chief executive of Halfords.

The company plans to have five or six out-of-town retail stores in Dublin, with a further five or six located around Cork, Galway and Limerick — generating 300 new jobs and more than €35m in sales each year.

Company bosses will fly into Dublin on Friday to give the new 11,000-sq-ft store in Coolock a “final inspection” before it opens on Saturday. Its full product range of about 11,000 items will be available.